Harley Upton Shatters Records in Final Warriors Home Game

Individual, program, and conference-records were shattered in the Nelson Warriors' final game of their spectacular 2024-25 regular season. Senior Harley Upton had the kind of night only the likes of Steph Curry can dream of. Already one of the nation's top 3-point snipers, Harley drained a school-record 13 3-pointers, hitting another record 10 in the second half, to finish with a career-high 47 points, which also set the NCCAA season-high. Of his 13, Harley's most impressive was an and-1 with about 4 minutes remaining in the first half and his team up six. The successful free throw attempt put his team up by double-digits for the first time. "That was the loudest I have ever heard the Activity Center," said Benjamin Charles, who came specifically to see Harley's regular season career-finale. "With each three, the crowd got louder and louder. I'd love to see what the decible level was at our peak."

Defeating the tough Bethesda Lion Angels 116-83, the Warriors finished with a school-record 20 victories to just 5 losses. A record 350 fans turned out to cheer on their Warriors who, despite trailing 7-0 in the game's first minute and a half, used what equated to a 48-28 run to take a 13-point lead into half.

"We were punched in the mouth, no doubt about it," said an electric Kole Ebert, who is serving in his first season as head coach. "But we never, ever quit. This group of young men is as cohesive a squad as I have ever been a part of."

Bethesda came out of the second half gates playing very tough once again, and despite Nelson quickly building a 22-point lead, the Lion Angels managed to shave it down to 8. "We got sloppy, and Bethesda took advantage," noted coach Ebert. "Those are the kinds of lapses that we cannot allow to happen. We need to keep that stretch in the memory bank and lean on it in the conference tournament."

However, it was soon after that Harley caught fire, putting the game away for good. After hitting an outside shot 2:21 into the half, Harley quickly followed it up with two more, putting him at six for the game. Nailing a 7th at the 12:01 mark, he officially tied his career-high, the first of six more in a six minute stretch sending the standing room only crowd into a frenzy.

With 2:15 remaining and his team up 28, Harley was pulled for the final time in his home career to a well-deserved standing ovation, first hugging his teammates on the court before embracing his head coach in an emotional moment.

The Warriors will next participate in the SWS Conference Tournament at West Coast Baptist College in Lancaster, CA, a two-round, single-elimination tournament beginning on February 28, at 4pm. Should they emerge victorious, the championship game will be on March 4, at 4pm.

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